West Midlands Railway’s Class 730/0 electric fleet has completed its first year in service on Birmingham’s Cross City Line, carrying more than 12 million passengers since its full rollout in September 2024.
The Siemens-built units, introduced progressively from March 2024, replaced ageing Class 323s on the corridor linking Lichfield, Birmingham, Bromsgrove and Redditch. With three-car sets running in pairs, the fleet provides capacity for over 1,000 passengers per train – a crucial enhancement on what is regarded as the busiest commuter route outside London.
Customer feedback has been notably positive, with WMR reporting a 19% rise in satisfaction scores. Spacious interiors, modern climate control and accessible design have all been cited as major improvements over the older stock.
The fleet’s success was underlined earlier this month when it won Fleet Achievement of the Year at the National Rail Awards in London.
Jonny Wiseman, WMR’s customer experience director, said the trains had become the flagship of the operator’s £1 billion investment in rolling stock and infrastructure: “We want to provide the best possible passenger experience, and we are so pleased that the Class 730/0s are making such a positive impact already.”
The Cross City Line also serves Birmingham’s rebuilt University Station, which has seen more than three million entries and exits in its first year since redevelopment. Beyond the core Lichfield–Redditch/Bromsgrove service, the Class 730 family is also in use on WMR routes to Walsall, Wolverhampton, Rugeley and Birmingham International, forming the backbone of the operator’s modernised suburban offering.
